Senior Quality Assurance Engineer

The Senior Quality Engineer provides technical leadership and strategic oversight to ensure sustained product conformity and compliance with ISO and applicable customer and regulatory requirements across all phases. This role supports a high mix, low volume aerospace environment focused on complex, custom assemblies and serves as a subject matter expert in quality risk management, advanced problem solving, and customer quality engagement.

The Senior Quality Engineer acts as the technical authority for assigned processes and product families and provides technical mentorship within the Quality organization. This position partners closely with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and leadership to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate quality risks, strengthen process robustness, and improve long term quality performance.

This role may include direct and ongoing engagement with customers and suppliers, and may require offsite presence to support audits and critical quality investigations.

WHY WORK HERE

• Work in a highly technical aerospace manufacturing environment supporting complex products and assemblies
• Serve as a key technical leader influencing quality strategy, risk mitigation, and customer satisfaction
• Partner directly with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and executive leadership teams
• Opportunity to lead meaningful continuous improvement and supplier quality initiatives
• Gain exposure to advanced quality systems, customer audits, and global supplier networks
• Join a team focused on accountability, technical excellence, and operational improvement

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide risk-based quality input to leadership on deviation acceptance, containment strategy, and customer communication.
• Review, approve, and provide technical oversight for inspection plans, FAIs, and conformance strategies for complex or critical products.
• Owns quality performance for assigned processes and product families, ensuring sustained compliance and effectiveness.
• Serves as primary quality interface for advanced customer and supplier escalations, including audits, systemic complaints, and long term corrective actions.
• Leads continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing variation, improving process capability, and enhancing overall product and customer quality.
• Owns MRB decision-making for any escalated nonconformances. Collaborates with Quality Engineering/Management as needed to ensure consistent application of risk-based disposition decisions across products and programs.
• Lead and facilitate RCCA investigations for internal quality issues and customer complaints using structured problem-solving tools (8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa), validate corrective action effectiveness, and drive “look across” to prevent recurrence across products and programs.
• Manage customer quality inquiries from initiation through closure, ensuring clear communication and alignment on expectations and timing.
• Investigate and resolve customer complaints promptly, ensuring containment and corrective actions meet customer expectations.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to the Quality organization and cross functional teams, to strengthen quality competencies and drive consistent application of quality tools.
• Monitor, analyze, and report advanced quality metrics and trends, and present findings to leadership.
• Develop and maintain internal quality standards, inspection plans, and work instructions.
• Conduct internal audits to ISO 9001 and support external audits, as needed.
• Provide guidance/training on GD&T, inspection methods, and quality tools.
• Additional projects and tasks, as assigned by the Quality Assurance Manager.
• Supplier Quality support, if needed based on site needs:
• Plan, lead, and participate in supplier audits (domestic and international), including assessment of compliance to ISO 9001 and customer requirements.
• Own or oversee supplier corrective action requests (SCARs) for high-risk or repeat issues and verify effectiveness.
• Partner with Supply Chain to assess supplier quality risk, performance trends, and development priorities.
• This role will interact directly with a global supplier base, requiring the ability to build relationships and manage quality expectations across different regions. This position may involve international travel to support supplier audits and quality investigations.
• Experience supporting aerospace tooling, ground support equipment, or complex mechanical assemblies is highly valued.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related technical discipline
• (Advanced degree preferred. Significant working experience may be substituted for education at AGSE’s discretion).
• 10+ years of relevant industry experience within a quality assurance organization.
• 7 years minimum specifically in a Quality Engineering role within aerospace and/or manufacturing.
• Demonstrated leadership of complex quality investigations, customer issues, and supplier quality initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience serving as senior quality interface for customers, including audit support, corrective action response, and issue escalation.
• This role will interact directly with a global supplier base, requiring the ability to build relationships and manage quality expectations across different regions. This position may involve international travel to support supplier audits and quality investigations.
• Experience supporting aerospace tooling, ground support equipment, or complex mechanical assemblies is highly valued.
• Advanced knowledge of ISO 9001.
• Proficiency in RCCA methodologies, APQP (as applicable to internal processes) and SPC.
• Working knowledge of common inspection tools and advanced technologies (CMMs, PCMMs, Romer/FARO arms).
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications.
• Onsite role; remote work may be occasionally granted or required at the discretion of the Quality Assurance Manager.
• Certifications: CQE, Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt), or ISO 9001/AS9100 Lead Auditor preferred.
• ERP/MRP proficiency (Epicor system preferred).
• Technical and practical understanding of complex precision machined components preferred.
• Technical and practical understanding of complex mechanical and hydraulic assemblies preferred.
• Understanding of basic metallurgy and welding fundamentals preferred.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, as required, to support supplier audits and quality investigations.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Strong customer and supplier quality performance
• Effective resolution of complex quality investigations and escalations
• Improved process capability and reduction in recurring quality issues
• Strong audit performance and regulatory compliance
• Effective cross-functional collaboration and technical leadership
• Sustained improvement in supplier quality and customer satisfaction

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

• Medical, dental, Life and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Career development opportunities
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Referral program
• Sick Leave
• Salary Range: $80,000 – $120,000 annually, Eligible for discretionary bonus up to 10%

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role is on-site in Cincinnati, Ohio 45215. Occasional domestic and international travel is required to support supplier audits, business reviews, sourcing initiatives, and strategic supplier development activities. This role deals with international customers and vendors, and off hours may be required at times. Physical requirements include sitting, standing, walking, and lifting up to 25 pounds.

Ready to Be the Technical Link in Aerospace?

Apply now to step into a position where your expertise drives real outcomes across the aerospace product lifecycle.